The Latter Nectar of Time (Unknown) - Page 11

I bow to Mahakali, who sits to the left of Lord Shiva—the conqueror of the God of Love—and who grants all desired fruits to her devotees. She holds a conch, a discus, and the gestures of fearlessness and blessing in her hands. Seated upon a lion, she is the bringer of welfare, adorned by Lord Shiva, who wears the moon as his crest-jewel. Her three eyes shine with intense radiance, and she eternally protects the majestic King Vikramaditya A legendary emperor of ancient India, often associated with the patronage of the arts and sciences.

The definitions and terminology have already been explained in detail in the first part.

Now, for the delight of the learned, I shall explain the methods of natal and horary astrology in sequence.

In this latter part of the Kalamrita, I speak clearly and precisely of that which grants results across the three periods of time—past, present, and future—and increases wealth, composed in the Shardulavikridita meter.

In the first half (the Purva Kalamrita), the technical terms and definitions of astrology have already been discussed at length. In this second half (the Uttara Kalamrita), for the pleasure of scholars, I shall now describe the systems of Jataka Natal astrology: the study of birth charts and Prashna Horary astrology: the study of charts cast for the moment a question is asked. This will be done with greater clarity and precision to provide results for the three divisions of time and to increase prosperity, composed in the "Tiger's Sport" (Shardulavikridita) poetic meter.

Determining the Desired Time and Related Factors

The exact time of birth in nadis and other units should be determined by the shadow of a gnomon or by instruments.

One must calculate the day and night duration, and from the tropical sun and the desired time, find the ascendant.

With a joyful heart and by the Grace of the Teacher, the wise scholar should calculate the planets through observational mathematics to find their true positions in signs and degrees.

Likewise, one should determine the houses along with their junctions.

The exact time of birth for humans and other beings must be accurately determined using the shadow of a Shanku Gnomon: a vertical pillar used to tell time by its shadow or other instruments like clocks. One must also ascertain the length of the day and night at the time of birth. Similarly, using the Sayana Ravi Tropical Sun: the sun's position adjusted for the precession of the equinoxes and the Ishta Kala Desired Time: the specific moment of the event being analyzed, the Lagna Ascendant: the rising sign on the eastern horizon should be clarified. Thereafter, by the grace of the Guru, one should calculate the planets using mathematical methods so that their positions in the zodiac signs correspond exactly to their observed positions in the sky. In this way, the wise astrologer, with a cheerful mind, should calculate the Bhavas Astrological Houses along with their Sandhis Junctions: the points where one house ends and the next begins.